Golf tee



Feb. 8, 1938.x l M J, MORGAN 2,07,705

GOLF TEE Filed July 17, 1955 Patented Feb. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GOLF TEE Maurice J. Morgan, West Englewood, N. J. Application July r1, 1935, 'serial No. 31,933

3 Claims.

The invention relates to golf tees and particularly to those of the type adapted and designed to be inserted into the ground.

means to hold the tee in place and prevent its.

loss; Where such projections are present they are liable to catch and interfere with the club head. The anchoring of thetee, by the result- :ing clinging tendency, also tends to cause such interference and to result in breakage of the tee. My invention removes these objections by the elimination of anchoring-means and the forming vofgthe seat or seats for the ball as indentations in one or more faces of thetee. My improved Yteelhas no clinging tendencies, and, if struck by vthe club head, offers no resistance, but moves f with it. y

VMy invention not only eliminates interference .in this way, but presents anr additional advantage Vwhichris helpful in improving the play of golfers generally, andespecially of those who are in- `cl-inedto hit low behindthe ball. This additional feature is the provision of a choice of seats, affording different lofts of the ball and suitable for different shots, to satisfy the needs and preferencesof different players-in the manner of teeing the ball. In my tee seats are so'disposed `as to present a high or loW teed ball according tothe wishes of the player.

The provision of-a golf tee of such form and configuration as to afford a plurality of selectively Yusable seats for the ball at different eleva- ,tionsconstitutes one of the principal objects of f' -rny invention.

Another object is the provision of a golf tee 'which will make possible such Variation in elevation of the seat for the ball without special adjusting means or other inconvenient Vand undesira'ble `features which .are `inherent in many known forms ofl tees.

y r`One of Ythe morejspecic objects of my invend,tion is the :provision of a teek comprising two parts adapted `to be used together orseparately.

Another object is the provision of a two-part golf tee the parts of which are respectively formed with their ends differently 'shaped and thereby made suitable for different conditions of the ground into which they are designed to be inserted.

A further object is the provision of a tee having seats for the ball formed at different angles to enable the ball to be teed at different elevations and to provide different lofts of the ball.

In the drawing, wherein the preferred form of embodiment of my invention is illustrated:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one ci the parts of my two-part tee, this part being designated as the tee element;

Figure 2 is a similar View of the other part of l5 the tee, designated as the support element or support and capable of being used alone as a tee;

Figures 3 and 4 -are side elevational views of the two-part tee in assembled relation, showing@ different modes of use thereof;

Figure 5 is a similar View of the support element illustrated in Fig. 2, and showing this element used separately as a tee;

Figures 6 and 7 are similar views of the tee element illustrated in Fig. l, and showing differ- Vent modes of use of the tee element separately,

the tee element shown in Fig. 6 having a shank of slightly modified shape;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8--8 30 of Fig. 6, to illustrate the slightly modified form of shank of the tee element; and

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9--9 of Fig. '7.

In the particular embodiment of my invention which is illustrated in the drawing, the invention comprises a tee element I preferably provided with a pointed end 3 and a support element 2 preferably formed with a blade-like end 4. The parts may be made of the same or dif- 40 ferent materials, for example, wood, celluloid, rubber, composition, or any other suitable materials. VThe element l may be rounded (as in Figs. 7 and 9) or of angular cross-sectional shape (as in Figs. 6 and 8), and is preferably formed 45 with an enlarged head 5 and a tapered shank which is preferably undercut or curved on one or more sides or portions of its surface to form aconcave face 6 by which the head is offset. The opposite face or surface 1 of the shank may be a 50 straight (flat or rounded side) or may be curved outwardly in the longitudinal direction.

On the head 5 are formed angularly disposed faces 8, 9, each dished sufficiently to form a cup or seat upon which a golf ball B may be seated when the tee element is suitably positioned in the ground or in the support element 2.

To permit the parts I and 2 to be assembled for the latter method of use of the teeV element I the support 2 is formed 0r provided with a recess I capable of use as a socket for the reception of the end 3 of the tee element I, the socket and the end of the tee element being so dimensioned that the tee will be held with suiicient firmness to prevent turning, but Will be easily releasable therefrom by hand or when struck by the golf club. The socket I9 may be either of circular or other cross section, to fit the end 3 of the tee element, which may differ in shape, as shown by the examples illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. Whatever the shape of the tee element, the tee and socket are designed to hold the tee in the socket without turning or wobbling Without the use of screws, wedges, or other securing means.

The support element 2 is preferably of the configuration illustrated, with a relatively thick head and a shank tapering to a thin blade-like end 4. While the particular configuration illustrated is preferred, other shapes and forms of supports may be used, the essential features of element 2 being a blade or sharpened or pointed end adapted to be inserted into the ground, and a head I I having a socket IIl and a seat I2 which may be of the same general cup-shaped form as seats 8 and 9. If desired, the seat I2 may be omitted, but this seat is generally found to be useful and desirable, as furnishing an additional elevational position of the ball when the support 2 is used separately.

The seats for the ball provided by the tee element I are preferably slanting seats, angularly disposed relative to the major and minor axes of the tee. The angles at which the seats 8 and 9 may be set are not necessarily limited to the angles illustrated, but these angles may be varied, (e. g., one directly upright seat and one slanting) as may also the general shape of the tee element and the curvature of the side faces of its shank in the longitudinal direction.

The two-part tee constructed in the general manner described is capable of use in various ways. The parts I and 2 may be used together, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, or separately, as in Figs. 5, 6, and 7.

The tee element I, whether used alone or with support element 2, affords two separate seats 8, 9, for the ball, and consequently two different lofts which the player may select according to the style of club needed for the shot.

Support element 2, like element I, has no projections for the club head to catch upon. Used separately, element 2 affords a sharp blade-like end, with curved or straight edges and tapering to the ball seat, and functioning properly when inserted in the ground even to a quarter inch depth, requiring only a slight pressure to place it. This form of tee or tee support is particularly adapted for hard baked ground, but is adapted to function properly in loose sandy soil or silt or practically any other character of ground; used separately it is especially well suited for wooden clubs. The rounded surface of the element 2 makes it impossible to catch the tee between the club head and the ball, whether inserted in the ground as shown in Fig. 5 or with only its tip inserted, approximately one-fourth as deeply as shown in that figure, a manner of use to which this element is well adapted. However deeply inserted the club head hits the ball B fairly, and, if it happens to strike the element 2 at all, merely rolls the latter before it. By using element 2 alone a much lower teed ball is obtained than with tee element I used alone or with the support element 2,

Seats of various other elevations may be availed of by selectively positioning element I in one or the other of its different positions, either alone, as in Figs. 6 and rI, or with the support 2, as in Figs. 3 and 4.

When the parts are used together, in the manner illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the player may place the support 2 in the ground G by stepping on it and may easily put the ball B in position on seat 8 `or 9. This particular arrangement, and specifically that of Fig. 3, is especially suited for the use of iron clubs or for players who prefer a seat at a higher elevation than is possible with the ordinary tee, but a lower teed ball than is afforded by the assembly in Fig. 4. The use 0f seat 8, as shown in Fig. 4, is for the benet of players desiring a higher teed ball or where a driver is used.

With the parts assembled in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3 or in Fig. 4, either of which is of particular advantage in loose sandy soil where an unusually long tee is necessary or desirable, shouldthe player hit behind the ball the club head hits too low and comes into contact with the tee element l. No resistance is thereby encountered by the club head, the tee I merely separating from support 2 and the ball consequently dropping to the level ofthe club head, correcting the faulty shot.

As used in Figs. 3 and 4, and also in Figs. 6 and '7, the shaft of tee I projects rearwardly from the seat 9 or 8 and is visible behind the ball, indicating to the player the correct line of flight for the club head to follow.

Under certain circumstances, respecting particularly elevation of the ball and condition of the ground, the use of the tee element I alone may be preferred. Because of its pointed end 3 this element is somewhat better adapted to firm wet ground. When placed in either of its positions, as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 respectively, the seat presented for the ball affords a much lowerteed ball than is furnished by the two-part assembly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.

Although the preferred manner of placing the tee element I (used alone or with support 2) is as shown in Figs. 3, 4, 6, and '7, with the shaft of the tee extending rearwardly from the seat toward the player, the tee I or support 2 may be inserted in the ground in the reverse position, so that the tee extends toward the player. This arrangement gives the ball the appearance of being suspended in the air. In this manner of use the tee answers the same general purpose as the ordinary upright tee, but has the advantage that it is less apt to be struck by the club head, and, since the shaft of the tee is on the opposite side of the ball from the player (instead of under the ball, as in the commonly known tees), it is out of the path of the club head. Seats 8, 9, on element I afford selective variations of positioning of the ball with the same depth of insertion in the ground.

I claimt- 1. A golf tee support of general disk shape having a tapered knife-like body adapted to be inserted in the ground and the upper portion having an obliquely-disposed socket in its upper part adapted to receive a golf tee andsupport it in operative position.

2. A golf tee support of general disk shape side portions'and intervening side edge portions having a at side portion thereof tapered to a tapered to a knife-like edge adapted to be inf knife-like edge adapted to be inserted in the serted in the ground, the upper side edge portion ground, and the upper portion having a recess of the support having an obliquely disposed sockto provide a seat for a golf ball on the upper suret therein adapted to receive a golf tee and supface of the support. port it in inclined operative position.

3. A golf tee support of general disk shape Y having substantially fiat downwardly converging MAURICE J. MORGAN. 

